Transplacental passage of non-ionic contrast agents resulting in fetal bowel opacification: a mimic of pneumoperitoneum in the newborn

• DOI: 10.1007/s00247-007-0422-4
• Publication Date: 2007-02-23T03:27:02Z
• Authors: Brook J. Hill; Gaurav Saigal; Sandip Patel; George E. Abdenour
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Vomiting; Infant, Newborn; Rectum; Contrast Media; 3. Good health; Diagnosis, Differential; Radiography; Intestinal Diseases; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Pregnancy; Pneumoperitoneum; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Triiodobenzoic Acids; Humans; Female; Pulmonary Embolism; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Dilatation, Pathologic

Although animal studies suggest that non-ionic radiological contrast agents do not cross the placenta, case reports have documented transplacental passage of the non-ionic monomers iohexol and iopromide in humans. We report a case of presumed transplacental passage of the non-ionic monomer ioversol resulting in fetal bowel opacification and mimicking pneumoperitoneum.